RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Last weekend, I was speaking at a great church in the Atlanta area.

They had some cool theming in their kids' areas.  I took some pictures to share with you.

We know that theming and decor are not the main reason why kids and their parents return to a church.

However, with that being said, theming and decor do make an impact on guests.  Without speaking, it says to guests,"We care about kids here.  We are committed to the next generation and prove it by the time, effort and investments we make for them."

Your theming and decor definitely make a big statement to families.  Keep this in mind.  Theming and decor that is done well can make your ministry appear better than it really is.  And on the flip side, theming and decor that is not done well or doesn't exist, can make your ministry seem worse than it really is.

I often tell ministries they can do something.  Even if you don't have a big budget, there is a lot that can be done.  A starting point is painting the walls kid-friendly colors like green, yellow, blue, etc.  And you have talented people in your church that can help create 3-D objects, signs, etc.  Share the vision and they will help you create and install great theming and decor.

Here are some pictures from the church in the Atlanta area.  If you'd like more help with theming your children's area, feel free to contact me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com and I can put you in touch with some amazing artists and builders who can help you.  Enjoy the pictures.

In today's culture being an influencer doesn't necessarily mean you are a famous movie star, athlete, performer, politician or celebrity.

In our connected society, powerful influencers can also be found on YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Companies as large as Walmart, Staples and Mattel are signing toddlers and tweens, who have a large number of followers, to represent their company through ads.

And they are being paid well for being an influencer.  Kyler Fisher, the father of 2-year-old identical twins who have more than two million followers on Instagram, said a sponsored post on the girls’ account could bring between $10,000 and $20,000.00.

Here is a list of some of the top kid influencers.  Go check them out and see what they are doing to gather so many followers. You can look these up on YouTube.

Evan Tube - Evan is one of the top kid influencers in the world.  His YouTube channel has 5 million subscribers.  With all of his social media accounts he has over 10 million followers.  He has even written his own book.

Ryan Toys Review - Ryan is 8-years-old and is already one of the, if not the biggest kidinfluencers in the world. He has nearly 17 million subscribers to his YouTube channel. He does toy reviews. He’s also broken into the toy market by launching his own toys in conjunction with Walmart.

Gabe and Barrett are a brotherly duo. They produce engaging and entertaining videos for their YouTube channel, They have over 1.6 million subscribers.

These are just a few of the children who are already Kid Influencers.

I believe there is much we can learn from this for children's ministry.  Here are a few of my thoughts.

• We must see the value that kids can add to the ministry.  Often, we hold them back from making a difference because we think they are "too young" or they are "just a kid."  Well, look around and you'll see that kids are making a big difference in the world of toys and entertainment.  Why not empower them and give them the opportunity to make a difference for the kingdom of God.

• We should challenge kids to be difference makers.  Influencers who use their talents and giftedness to further God's kingdom.  

• We must instill in them the eternal difference they can make when they serve in kid's ministry.  Given the opportunity they can influence your entire church and community.  

Several years ago, at one of the churches I was serving at, we were raising money to build a new children's building.  We decided to include the kids in the fundraising so they could not only obey God, but also gain a sense of ownership.

One of the kids decided he wanted to really make a difference by donating the money he was going to get for his birthday.  It was no small amount.  You see, his parents had promised to take him to Sea World in Orlando for his birthday.  The trip was worth $1,500.

The kid decided on his own to forgo the trip and instead give the money to help complete the new building.  His parents asked to make sure it was something he wanted to do.  And with no coercion or pressure, he gave his birthday trip money to help finish the new kids' building.

But his influence did not stop there.  We begin sharing the story of how the child had given his birthday trip money to help pay for the new building.  What he had done spread quickly and God used it to motivate the entire congregation to give sacrificially.  It happened and the building was completed.

You have children in your ministry that can be Kid Influencers.  They are simply waiting for you to ask them.  Lets raise up a generation of Kid Influencers that are committed to using their influence to reach people for Christ. 

This past weekend was the grand opening of our new building at our Stuart Campus.

We started this campus in a high school 8 years ago.
Amazing volunteers served faithfully week in and week out for these years setting up in the school.  God honored their faithfulness and the preaching of His Word and the campus has grown and grown and grown.

A couple of years ago, God opened the door for us to purchase over 320 acres for a permanent facility for this campus.  Since then we've been planning, preparing and constructing the facility.  All the hard work was so worth it as we saw thousands of people walk through the doors for the grand opening and dozens of people step across the line of faith.

A building is simply a tool you can use to help build people.  As our pastor said - It's not about property...it's about people.  I look forward to seeing all the kids and families whose lives are going to built up in this new facility.

Here's an inside look at the children's building.  The final touch will be added this fall when a tree with slides is added to the indoor playground.   The theming was done by Wacky World Studios, Little Mountain Productions as well as some in house items. 

This past weekend, we opened the new building at our Boynton Beach Campus.  The neat thing about this campus...it is located in an active mall.

The Dillard's store had gone out of business and God opened the door for us to purchase and remodel it.  Where shoes, clothes, and perfume were once sold...now kids and families are learning about Jesus.

Few notes about the children's area...

• The theming was done by Bruce Barry and Wacky World Studios.  
• Most of the furniture was purchased from IKEA.
• We use a system called ARENA for check-in.
• We use the playground for preschool chapel during services.  There is a stage with a built-in puppet stage, monitor, etc. at one end.  After the service, it's open for kids to play in under the supervision of a parent.
• We currently have two services at this campus. 9:30 and 11:00 am.  It was standing room only at both services, so we will be opening a third service...probably a Saturday night service.
• The lettering on the walls was done by a local company.
• We have a coffee shop where we produce our own coffee brand.  The coffee shop opens up to the mall and is also open during the week.  All the proceeds go to outreach.

 Here are some pictures from opening weekend.

This past week, I hosted the church tour at Children's Pastor's Conference in Orlando.  We toured three churches.  Below are some pictures.

One of the best ways to learn and grow is by visiting other churches.  If you have never visited another church for ideas and inspiration (or if it's been awhile), then here's some tips.

1. Contact a church that's where you want your ministry to be one day.
2. If possible, go during a weekend service.  You'll get more ideas seeing it in action.
3. If you can't go on a weekend, then ask if you can come on a weekday when they are having staff meeting.  Observe their staff meeting as part of your visit.
4. Come with a list of questions.  Here's a few examples.

• What's working well right now?
• What has helped you grow?
• What are some challenges you are facing right now?
• If you were re-building or re-modeling your children's area again, what are a few things you would change?

5. Take some of your staff / key volunteers with you.
6. Send the church a thank you note when you get back.

CHURCH IN THE SON



NORTHLAND CHURCH



CALVARY ASSEMBLY OF GOD

Sondra Saunders is one of my heroes in Children's Ministry.  She has been the Director of Children's Ministries at the great Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas area for over 34 years. 

Sondra, I honor you for your...

Friendship.  She has been a friend to hundreds of children's ministers.  She has personally impacted my life and ministry through phone conversations, conferences, and visits to her church. 

In the fall of 2010, she allowed me to bring our Early Childhood team to visit and glean ideas from their ministry.  Our team brought back so many valuable ideas.  Sondra has been a mentor and friend to many.

Fruit.  Sondra has been invaluable in the life of her church, reaching countless thousands of children and their families for Christ.  Under her leadership, the children's ministry has grown to minister to thousands of kids each week. 

Further learning.  Some veteran children's ministers make the mistake of thinking they know it all.  They develop a "been there...done that" mentality. 

Not Sondra.  She has always been committed to growing, learning, and looking for ways to improve her ministry.  I have seen her sit in conference workshops taking notes when she probably knew more than everyone else in the room combined...including the speaker.  She has taught me that "great leaders are always in school."

Facilities.  Sondra has been a leader in creating cutting-edge space for children.  She has led in the completion of several building projects designed just for kids.  In many churches, the children's ministry space is an afterthought.  Not at Prestonwood!  The children's ministry building that is named after her is a testimony of a leader and church that loves kids and shows it by investing in facilities and resources.

Faithfulness.  I once heard it said that "greatness in ministry is not measured in years...but in decades."  I couldn't agree more and when I think of faithfulness in children's ministry...I think of Sondra. 

Her life verse is, "Be ye therefore steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 

She has not just quoted this verse...she has lived it.

Thank you, Sondra, for being a hero, leader, and example that we can follow in children's ministry.  We honor you!

If you know Sondra and would like to share what she has meant to your life, feel free to leave your notes in the comment section below.

A few weeks ago, we created a video tour of our children's building for the people who participated in the CPC Orlando church tour.  Here is the video, if you'd like to see it.

As you watch, keep this in mind.

Space matters.  A good children's building is a great tool to attract kids and families.  Do something with what God has given you.  Even if it's as simple as painting the walls a kid-friendly color, it will make a difference.

Relationships are the most important thing.  Cool buildings will get families in the door, but it's relationships that keeps them coming and impacts them.  Your volunteer team inside the building is where it's at.

Combine a nice children's building and a great volunteer team that builds relationships with kids and you've got a recipe for a thriving children's ministry.

Each year we decorate our children's building for the Christmas season.  Here's an inside look.  We have also installed snow machines inside the building.  If you live in South Florida, snow is a big deal for kids.